Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

In his lengthy literary career, Jonathan Swift wrote many stories that used
a broad range of voices that were used to make some compelling personal
statements. For example, Swifts, A Modest Proposal, is often heralded as
his best use of both sarcasm and irony.
In his lengthy literary career, Jonathan Swift wrote many stories that used
a broad range of voices that were used to make some compelling personal
statements. For example, Swifts, A Modest Proposal, is often heralded as
his best use of both sarcasm and irony. Yet taking into account the persona
of Swift, as well as the period in which it was written, one can prove that
through that same use of sarcasm and irony, this proposal is ...

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his wife unable to have any more children. It would be rather absurd to
think that a rational man would want to both propose this and partake in
the eating of another human being. Therefore, before an analyzation can
continue, one has to make the assumption that this is strictly a fictional
work and Swift had no intention of pursuing his proposal any further.

One of the other voices that is present throughout the entire story is that
of sarcasm. In order to understand this further, a reader has to comprehend
that Swift, becoming infamous after Gullivers Travels, was a member of the
upper-class. Right from the first paragraph Swift attempts to fool his
readers by the sarcasm of the dreary scene that Swift presents. For example,
he mentions that it is a melancholy sight to see beggars and their children
on the street. The sarcastic paradox in this statement is whether it is a
melancholy object for him, having to see homeless people every day, or for
the beggars lifestyle? Upon ...

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and use them to, "make admirable gloves for ladies
summer boots for fine gentlemen.". Also, when he makes his calculations as
to how many children would be available for sale, he never takes into
account the children from the rich families. In short, Swifts message is
that rich children serve a purpose, the advancement of Ireland, while poor
children are nothing but a burden to the republic.

One other clear indication that Swift was motivated by his hatred for the
poor is the list of six reasons that he write to qualify his proposal. In
the third statement, Swift explains how by buying the children and then
selling them to their friends, the upper-class can keep on thriving. ...

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